What’s in a name…Part 2

Kaylee smiled at everyone. “This here is El, she saved…..” “Kaylee, it’s not El. My name is Ellen, Vera Ellen.” Everyone stopped talking and looked at Jayne. “Isn’t that the name of your really big gun?” Wash asked, looking between them. “Yeah, named it after her.” He smiled at her and she thought her heart would break. “You named a gun after me?” She smiled at him. “Yeah, gun I took off your Dad’s men.” He kept smiling. Book placed food platters on the table. Captain looked at him. “Where’d you get this stuff?” “Kitchen of the other ship.” Book smiled at everyone. “Seems that they ate very well.” “Yes, they did.” Vera stated as she took a bite. “They?” Book asked, sitting down. “Yes, I was allowed to taste while cooking, but only to eat the leftovers.” She continued to eat with gusto. “Well at least we found something worthwhile on that ship.” Jayne muttered, angry that he hadn’t found anything. “You didn’t find the stash?” Vera asked Jayne innocently. “Stash…..?” “You know where it is?” Captain spoke over Jayne. “Yes, I do.” She looked at the Captain. “I always wondered why Mavis made my room off limits to the other men. So one day I took a really good look.” She took another bite. “Shepard, this is very good.” The rest of the crew looked at her dumbfounded. “You thinking of sharing this information? Jayne went thru the rooms and he didn’t find anything.” He looked at Jayne. “Right?” Not putting it past Jayne to keep the stash to himself. “Right Mal, I searched all the main cabins, I thought.” He looked at Vera. “What room was yours?” “Tiny room, down by the cells.” Everyone got up and headed towards the connecting ramp, Vera kept eating. “You coming?” Captain asked. “Foods too good to waste, stash will keep a few more minutes.” She said, after she swallowed. The rest sat back down and slowly finished eating. Jayne just laughed to himself, Vera hadn’t changed at all. “You done yet?” Mal watched as she slowly enjoyed her meal. “Captain, I have not eaten a meal while setting down in two years. Please let me enjoy it.” Vera said between bites. “Vera, we need that coin. Haven’t had a good job in months, this is the first real meal we have had in a long time.” Mal didn’t like to admit that to anyone outside the crew, but given what she had done for Kaylee she might become crew. “Then lets enjoy it, please pass the rolls.” She smiled at Jayne and he passed the basket down to her. At that moment the proximity alarm went off and half the crew ran for the bridge. Jayne and Vera had finished off the rolls by the time the Captain came back. “Let’s go, we got about fifteen minutes before an Alliance battleship arrives, they’re answering our SOS.” Vera jumped up with the rest of the diners, She felt light headed and stumbled back out of her chair. Even thou he was seated three chairs away, Jayne was the one to catch her. “Vic, you all right?” He said into her ear as he helped her sit back down. “Yeah Jac, I’m fine. Just stood up too fast.” Even before he spoke, she had known it was him that had caught her. “I’m not sure that’s all, bring her back to the infirmary.” Simon looked at her eyes and gestured for Jayne to follow him. “Gonna have to wait on that, Doc. Need Vera to help us find that stash and you need to get your sister and hide.” Mal headed out of the dinning area. “Jayne, you help her and hurry.” “I can walk, Jac.” Vera said as Jayne picked her up and followed Mal. “Yeah, but I like carrying you.” He smiled at her, he just couldn’t stop smiling. This was the closest they had been sense he had first carried her into the infirmary. Damn, how could she still affect him like this? “Down that hall.” She pointed the way, as Jayne and Mal ran towards her room. “This one. Jac, put me down.” He reluctantly complied. “Jayne, you check this one?” “No Mal, just the crew cabins and main rooms.” He looked around. “Vic, where is it? We don’t have time to look.” “Under the pad, pull up that board. The blue bags have mostly cash and unset gems. Would spend my nights sorting thru stuff, made a bag of untraceable to take if I every got the chance. The other stuff is registered jewelry and would be hard to sell.” Mal and Jayne both looked at her with newfound respect. Mal grabbed the blue bags and put the bed back so that you could tell it had been messed with. Jayne grabbed Vera and the three of them ran back to Serenity. “Jayne, take her back to the infirmary.” Mal ran up to the bridge, to see how much longer they had. “Wash?” “They’ll be here in a few minutes, they’ve been asking for you.” “Well, stall them for a few more minutes, need to stash the stash.” With that the Captain ran down past his quarters and into the kitchen. He made sure no one else was around and in a small wall cubby that only he and Zoë knew about, he hid the bags. “Book!” Captain yelled in the direction of his room. “Need you to play Doctor.” He ran into the infirmary. “Jayne, head down to the cargo hold and wait with Zoë, I’ll be right there.” He waited for him to leave. “Vera, you up to a grilling by the Feds?” “Yeah, how come the Doctor isn’t here?” “Well….He and the Alliance don’t get along. Book, here will be your doctor now.” The Captain looked like he had wanted to say more, but he just left. “You feeling any better?” Book adjusted the blanket Jayne had thrown over her. “Yeah, I feel fine. I just stood up to fast.” “How come you called Jayne ‘Jac’ back in the kitchen?” “Just habit, I guess. We had code names for each other, thought we were so clever. I called him ‘JAC’ – Jayne Aaron Cobb and he called me ‘VIC’ – Vera Ellen Cobb.” Vera smiled at the memories. “Wouldn’t that be ‘VEC’ not ‘VIC’?” Book asked. “Jayne didn’t like the sound of ‘VEC’ so he pronounced it Vic.” *** “Wash, undock us from the Jorvic and dock with the Alliance.” Captain said into the communicator. “Ok, everyone smile.” Captain forced a smile on his face as the door opened and three armed soldiers burst in taking a defensive stands. Behind them came the second of command. “Why did you send out an SOS if you are not in need of help?” The Commander stormed up to Mal, having quickly decided he was the Captain. “Trying to save my crew member from pirates, figured they would stop for a defenseless ship and they did.” The Captain replied. “They kidnapped my mechanic and I wanted to get her back.” “That’s quite a charge Captain, you have any proof?” “I have a woman in the infirmary that was a slave on that ship for two years, that proof enough?” “I want to talk to her.” He gestured for the Captain to lead him. “Fine.” Captain led the way, things were actually going better then he thought they would. “Vera, this is Commander…?” “Commander Bauer, of the Alliance Battleship Dauntless. I understand that you were on the Jorvic, is that true?” “Yes Commander, I was taken off Lansdale, two years ago.” “Taken, Miss?” “Yes sir, forced with three friends onto their shuttle and taken to the Jorvic. They raped us and then sold the others at their next stop, they kept me because I could cook.” “What is your full name?” “Lady Vera Ellen Masterson.” “Masterson? Are you Lord Daschle’s daughter?” The Commander stood straighter when she nodded. “Transfer her to the Dauntless infirmary.” He looked at his men. Mal was stunned, Admiral Masterson’s daughter. He looked Vera over, he could see that she had lots of her father in her. To have lived as a slave for so long and come out normal. Well, depends on how normal she was going in, she had been in love with Jayne. “Commander, I’m find. The Captain was just being over protective.” “Ma’am, I’m not going to take any chances with Lord Daschle’s daughter, medical facility on ships like this are questionable.” “Commander, I’m not going to offend these people. They saved my life and the Shepard here has taken very good care of me.” Vera sat up and prepared to stand up, she accepted Captain Reynolds arm. “I think we should talk to Jorvic’s crew.” Vera walked with the Shepard down to the cargo hold. “Ma’am, the Jorvic crew is on the Dauntless. Fischer and Gardner, you stay here with Captain Reynolds.” “Commander, I would prefer if Captain Reynolds came with us. I missed most of the battle, he can fill that part in.” Vera smiled at the Commander until he nodded. She saw Jayne in the background, she wanted him to go with her, wished his arms were around her again. “We took the crew on board the Dauntless for medical aid.” The Commander stated as Vera and Mal entered the Alliance ship. “We will meet Captain Selzneck in the conference room. He’s looking forward to meeting you, he served with your father in the war.” The Commander led them to the conference room and turned to leave. Mal was trying to remember if he every fought against a Selzneck or a Masterson. “Commander, could you bring us some food, you interrupted our meal and I find I’m making up for two years of not eating.” She had used the command voice she had heard her father use, she was surprised when it worked. “Admiral Masterson is your father? You didn’t think to mention that?” “My father disowned me ten years ago, I consider myself fatherless. Captain Selznick’s going too disappointed if he thinks father will reward him for finding me.” Captain Selznick made a grand entrance, kissed Vera hand and ohh’d and aah’d over her. “I served under your father in the war.” He looked Mal over dismissively. “That’s what Command Bauer said.” Vera reclaimed her hands and sat back down. “He also said you have the Jorvic crew in custody? “Yes, yes the kidnapping charge. Well, seeing how your Lord Daschle’s daughter, I think we can take you word for it. “I haven’t seen my father in years.” Vera stopped eating long enough to look at Captain Selznick. “Yes, yes two years is a long time.” Selznick frowned at her, misunderstanding what she said. “Your father is very anxious to see you, we will be heading for Epson as soon as we can. Commander, please escort Captain Reynolds to his ship , while I take Lady Vera to her room.” “My father wants to see me?” Vera asked, very confused. “Why of course, he was very relieved to here that you are alive and asked that we bring you home right away.” “That’s all well and good, but I would like to say good-bye to the crew of Serenity before I go.” Vera stood and walked over to Mal. “I’m sure the Captain can relay your good-byes, no reason for you to go back onto that ship.” Selznick almost sneered at the mention of Serenity. It was all Mal could do to not slap that silly look off his face. “Captain Selznick.” Again using her command voice. “These people saved my life and I want to tell them thank you and good-bye. Surely there is thirty minutes until the Jorvic is ready and we need to leave. I will be back then.” She headed out the door, hoping she remembered the way back. Mal shrugged his shoulders and followed. *** “You don’t have to leave with them.” Captain Reynolds said as they went thru the connecting tunnel. “I don’t think I really have a choice Mal. If I stay on Serenity, I have no idea what he will do. He really wants to take me home to my father, He thinks my father will be grateful.” She saw Jayne standing against the bulkhead and walked over to him. Before he had a chance to ask, she leaned onto his body, laid her head on this chest and cried. He wrapped his arms around her and looked at Mal. “What’s up, Captain?” He ran his hands up and down her back, pulling her closer each time. “Seems Captain Selznick served with Vera father, so he called him up and he wants them to take her home to Epson.” Mal avoided looking at Kaylee. “What, why can’t we just take her, no reason she has to ride with them….” “Kaylee, calm down. Don’t think we have a choice, Selznick wants to make a name for himself.” He had been watching Jayne and was surprised at the big man’s reaction to everything, he hadn’t gotten angry or threatened to shoot anyone. He just held Vera and whispered to her and slowly kissed her, that shocked the whole crew. It was like they were all alone, all he could hear was her crying, all he could smell was her hair and all he could feel was her against his body. His arms encircled her and he knew it was the last time they would be together for all long time. Ten wasted years, he kissed the top of her head. How could he have been so stupid, he kissed her ear. What the hell was he going to do now, he kissed her cheek. He couldn’t just let her go, he kissed her nose. Damn, he still loved her, he kissed her mouth. Kissing him brought back all sorts of memories……. ..... “Mr. Cobb?” She asked, as she came up behind him. She had been watching him, waiting for her family to leave. She was sixteen and in love for the first time. “Yeah, kid?” He turned around and looked down at her. “Everyone’s gone, can we go back down to the lake?” “Hell no, your daddy finds out what we did and I’ll lose my job.” He snarled at her. “No one found out about last week, come on, I can keep a secret. Besides you said I was a natural.” She smiled at him. “Yeah, well… How long will they be gone?” “At least two hours, come on let’s hurry.” She smiled again and headed out the door. They walked down to the lake, out of sight of the house. “Ok Kid, take your coat off and get ready.” “It’s Vera, please call be Vera.” He looked confused. “Thought your name was Ellen?” “My family calls me Ellen, you can call be Vera.” “Yeah, what ever. You ready?” He walked up behind her and put his arms around her waist. “Do you remember what I told you last week?” “Yes Mr. Cobb, to breathe out and steady myself,” She took a deep breathe. “look down the barrel and concentrate. Can I call you Jayne? Like the boys do.” “What? Oh sure. Good stance, go ahead and shoot.” He slowly let go of her arms and she shot. She was a natural, much better then her brothers. “I hit it, I hit it…” She jumped up and down and hugged Jayne. He didn’t know that this was the real reason she wanted shooting lessons, the chance to hug him...... “Vera, you have to go now.” Mal put his hand on her shoulder, he heard Jayne growl at him. “Jayne, they’re at the door. She has to go.” “Why Mal, Why? So the Feds don’t find the Tams, that’s the real reason. Hell Mal, I’m tired of hiding for them.” He hoarsely whispered. He was mad, not at the Tams, but that he had to lose her again. “Jac, please. I need to go on the Dauntless. We’re going to Epson, I’ll stay with my Grandmother, she lives near Persephone. Jac, I need to go.” She looked up at him with a sad smile on her face, not sure why he was blaming Simon and River. She kissed him one last time on the cheek and he turned and walked away. She watched him go, she turned and accepted Kaylee’s good-bye hug. ‘Damn, damn, damn’ He thought to himself. ‘This is the second time I walked away from her’. ..... “You got any last words Michaels?” Jayne held his gun on the man that had been his boss. “You kill me, Ellen dies too.” “How you figure?” “I have a message from her father. If we couldn’t kill you, we were to give you an ultimatum. If you ever show your face near Ellen again, Lord Masterson will kill which ever one he can, you or Ellen.” “Why?” “He would rather see her dead, then have it known that she ran off with you. He has promised her hand in marriage and it would be embarrassing if he had to renege on the deal.” “Who he make the deal with?” “Atherton Wing Sr.” The man sat up. “Wing gets all the Admirals Alliance contacts and the Admiral gets enough money to pay off his debt. He means it Jayne, he’ll kill her.”.....